The Accidental Wedding novel Chapter 23

Rameen

I washed my feet to remove the sand grains stuck on them, I loved walking on beaches barefoot, just listening to the sound of waves splashing. It works as a stress buster for me, and today I have been feeling awful.

Imaad had been acting really weird in the past few weeks, always trying to get close to me. Caressing my hands or my face, it made me feel sick to my stomach. I don't know why I felt like that but his touch made me uncomfortable in a bad way.

I even googled for signs of being in love and how I should feel when my partner touches me, they also showed the same symptoms which Rania had told me earlier. I was freaking out, was something wrong with me? Was I abused sexually in my childhood that I was feeling like this? But as far as I can remember nothing of such sort ever happened, instead, I was blessed with the perfect childhood.

Today when he picked me up for lunch he looked normal, but when we were a little far from my home he tried to kiss me again after he had parked the car to get a call.

I snapped, I rushed out of the car and hired a cab to go to Daniyal's house. I couldn't go back to my home because then everyone would ask questions, hence I went to Daani. And luckily enough those two were

just leaving for lunch. I told them Imaad had to go for some emergency meeting and he had dropped me here so I could go with them.

My mind was occupied by Imaad's changed behavior, we have been engaged for more than a year and why did he start acting like this out of the blue when our wedding was in just one week.

Something was wrong, and I couldn't figure out what it was. There was a reason why Imaad was

behaving like this and I was not able to understand what, unless he was taking some drugs and was horny. I washed my hands, splashed some water on my face, dried myself with tissue and walked out of the

bathroom.

Waleed was waiting for me, as soon as he saw me he stood up from the couch. I had met him for the first time after he insulted me after the meeting. I couldn't understand this guy either, he looked so impressed with me before the meeting and was really warming up to me and suddenly he started behaving like a dickhead.

Daniyal knew about my wedding and still, he insisted me to work on this project. I was not ready to take this in the first place because of my history with Waleed. But Daniyal had forced me and here I was working my butt off on this project when I should have been busy with my wedding preparations.

And this guy had the audacity to call me unprofessional and insult me, I so hated him.

We walked out of the cabin and Waleed locked it after him, he guided me to his car and opened the door for me, he was being a perfect gentleman today.

I was feeling hungry, I had barely eaten lunch and had wandered off to the beach, and sat there in an isolated place hidden from the view from the spot where the luncheon was arranged.

I knew Daani would look for me before they left, and I didn't care about how much time I sat there thinking about my upcoming wedding.

I wanted to talk to Imaad about his changed behavior, or maybe he was trying to make me comfortable before our wedding, for the deed. I blushed even thinking about it, I like Imaad. I really like him very much, it's just that I couldn't figure out my feelings, and why I didn't feel any excitement from his touch.

"You okay?" Waleed asked me after some time while driving.

"Yeah, I am fine", I replied.

I didn't have anything to say further, so I just kept quiet and stared out of the window looking at the passing scenery.

"So, is yours a love marriage?" Waleed asked me not to ask me any personal question. "Imaad and I had known each other since as long as I remember", I replied.

"Childhood Sweethearts then", He muttered under his breath but I heard him.

"Not exactly, we were just friends, actually I always considered him as a friend. But I didn't know he had other plans", I said remembering the day he had proposed to me, I had never expected anything like that.

" You didn't love him?" He asked.

I don't know why he was suddenly interested in me and Imaad.

"I don't believe in love, but I believe in commitment and relationship. I think trust is more important in a relationship than love ever can be" I replied.

"What?'' he asked, rolling his eyes. I just looked at him questioningly.

"You will love the food", He said as he slid out of the car and walked towards my side and opened the door

for me.

A teenage boy came running out of the shed and greeted Waleed, I was shocked to find he was chatting with the boy like he had known him for ages.

"How is your school going Abdul? I hope you are going regularly", He asked the boy as he sat comfortably on the traditional woven cot.

"I have topped my class in the last exam", The boy replied grinning.

"Fantastic, keep up the good work", He said to the boy and started ordering the food.

I was looking at him with curiosity, he had taken off his jacket and folded his shirt-sleeves above his elbows and removed his tie. This was a completely different side of Waleed that I was witnessing.

"This is my native place, my grandfather lives here in our ancestral home. He has started a school for the village children. I would have taken you to meet him, but it's getting late and your family would be worried about you", He said, sensing my curiosity.

"Ohh" I replied.

"I used to come to this Dhaba (roadside eatery or restaurant) with Dada, we still come here often on the weekends. I love desi food, honestly, I don't enjoy eating in fancy restaurants, as much as I love eating here" He continued.

I was looking at him with interest in my eyes, never have I thought, I could be sitting in a remote village in a Dhaba and enjoying a conversation with Waleed. If someone would have told me this a month ago, I would have advised them to get a life.

He shared with me some of the incidents of his childhood when he used to come here with his grandfather, I didn't realize but I was actually enjoying my time with him.